Milk-can holder and contents dispenser



' Aug. 16, 1927;

- 1 ,639,249 EyALLEN MILK CAN HOLDER AND CONTENTS DISPENSER Fil'ed Sept. 29, 1926 v 15 18 I If 4 I29. 4 W g ,INVENTQR, 20 7 E'I'Jl 'SiAllGTL 19' v QKQZ I ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES ERNEST ALLEN, OFGROVELAND, CALIFORNIA.

MILK-CAN HOLDER AND CONTENTS DISPENSER.

Application filed September 29, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements My principal objects are to provide .a

device for the purpose which when applied to such a can will puncture the same at opposed points; will provide means for then rigidly holding the can and puncturing elements in engaging relation; and will enable the can to be then manipulated so that the contents may be then dispensed from the can without removing the puncturing elements from engagement with the can.

Means is also provided arranged in uni tary relation with the device for enabling the dispensing openings to be easily closed when the pouring operations have been completed and without removing the device from the can, thus not only avoiding the admission of air to the contents of the can but preventing said contents from spilling out should the can be upset. The device when once applied to the can need not be removed therefrom until the can is empty and ready to be discarded.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved device as applied to a milk can.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the spout disc detached.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the spike disc detached.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of said discs as assembled with one of the dispensing spouts shown in cooperative relation with a corresponding puncturing spike.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the device comprises a circular base plate 1 on which the milk can 2 of standard size rests, the base having feet 3 to hold it a certain distance above the table. Projecting Serial No. 138,390.

radially from the base in diametrally opposed relation and beyond the plane of the can are forked ears 4 to which are pivoted the lower ends of upstanding arms 5. Arranged to fit on top of the can and to extend over the entire area of the same is a circular cover plate 6 having opposed ears 7 to vertically aline with the ears l, and provided with longitudinal slots 8 which extend inwardly from their outer ends to removably receive the upper ends of the arms 5. The upper ends of the ears 7 have transversely extending grooves 9. These grooves are adapted to receive the lower ends of dogs 10 which are pivoted on the upper ends of the arms 5 in connection with handle members 11. These handle members extend thence outwardly and then down wardly to engage the arms intermediate their ends, and are provided with notches 12 at their lower inner ends to engage the arms and prevent lateral movement of the handle membersat such ends.

The lower ends of the dogs when engaged with the notches and when the lower ends of the handles are thus engaged with the arms lie in vertical planes inwardly of the pivotal pins 13 of the dogs and handles, so that they are past an inner dead center position and will hold against undesired disengagement with the notches.

Depending from the plate 6 in opposed alinement and on a line at right angles to the ears 7 are pointed spikes 14, of suflicient length to'project into the can a certain distance and positioned so that they will puncture the can near the edges. Compressible washers 15 surrounded the spikes so that close contact with the can will be maintained when said plate is applied there to and held in connection with the base plate in the manner as above stated.

The spikes are provided with longitudinal passages 16 extending from the top of the plate 6 to the sides of said spikes intermediate their ends. The side terminations of these passages face away from each other or so as to face the adjacent sides of the can. Superimposed on the plate 6 and turnably mounted in central relation therewith by a screw 17 is an upper plate 18, substantially the same diameter as the plate 6. This upper plate has radial and diametrally opposed extensions 19 which are provided with longitudinal grooves 20 in their upper faces til to form pouring spouts. From the bottom of each groove a hole 21 extends through the plate to communicate with the corresponding one of the passages 16. The plates 6 and 18 have a close fit so that the one will not turn too easily on the other and so that no mill; will leak from between the same at the junction of the holes 16 and 21 when said milk is passing therethrough.

It will therefore be seen that when the plate 18 is turned so that the holes 21 register with the passages 16, a tilting of the can so that either spout has a downward slant will cause the milk to flow from the can, the other pair of registering passages allowing the necessary air to enter the can at the same time. lVhe-n the pouring operations are completed and it is desired to protect the remaining contents of the can against contact with air and to prevent spilling, it is only necessary to rotate the plate 18 so that the holes 21 may be moved out of register with the pasiages 16. To limit the rotation of the plate 18 so that it cannot turn more than the necessary distance I may if desired cuta concentric slot through said plate 18 to receivea pin 23 fixed in the lower plate (3.

W hen it is desired to remove the devic from the can, the handles 11 are swung outwardly so as to move the dogs 10 a sul'iicie it distance past their dead center position in an outward direction so to enable them to clear the notches 9. The arms may then he swung clear of the ears 7 and the plate 6 removed, when the can may then of course be taken oil the base plate.

ll'hcn mounting the device onto a fresh can the plate {5 is applied first and given the sxry downward pressure so that the spikes will puncture the can. The can is .n set on the base so that the latter is in the proper position relative to the plate (3, and the arms 5 are then coupled up to said plate as before stated. The compressible washers enable the necessary frictional engagement of the upper and lower members vith the can to be had when the dogs are moved into holding engagement with the notches.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

lVhile th specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do ELS not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A can puncturing and dispensing (lo-- comprising a base member to form a support for a can, plate to rest on the can, opposed tPl 'uS on the plate to puncture the top of the 0111., means between the plate and base for holdin the two in frictional engagement with c 71 31., said spikes having passeges leadi g e through to the top of the plate, anotier p ate superimposed and turnahly mountec on the spike plate and having openings therethrough to register with the spike openings, and a spout formed with said upper plate and projecting outw rdly therefrom; said spout leading from an adjacent opening therein.

2. A can puncturing and dispensing deicc including a )lfltG to on a can, spikes depending from said plate to puncture the top of the can, said spikes having passages leading therethrough to thetop of the plate,

means for remoyabl holding said plate in frictional engagement with the can-top, an-

r mounted on said first wardiy 'zioni s id ..-.pper plate and having ()PQDLYU extcndin thence through the upper iunicate with the spikeupper ends.

0. i can Luring and dispensing device conn a base member to form a support ror a can, a plate to rest on the can, ogpozed spil-zes en the plate to puncture the top of the can, and having passages therethrough leading to the top of the plate, arms pivoted onto the base and projecting upwardly therefron'i, slotted ears projecting outwardly from the plate to receive the upper C5 is of the arms, and means mounted ga e the for holding said arms in place in the ears'and for ma aining the base and plate in frictional en 'z enient with the can.

A can puncturing and dispensing derice comprising a base member to form a support for a can, a plate to rest on the can, opposed spikes on the plate to puncture the top of the can, and having pasages therethrough leading to the top of the plate, ar'ms pivoted onto the base and projecting upwardly therefrom, slotted ears projecting outwardly from the plate to receive the up per ends of the a ms, handle members pivoted on the arms their upper ends and eX- tending thence outwardly and downwardly for detachable ngagement with the arms intermediate their ends, and dogs mounted in connection with the pivoted ends of the handies for det chable engagement with notches cut transyeri sely in the upper faces of the ears.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ERNEST ALLEN. 

